Singer-guitarist Dave Mustaine was fired from Metallica in 1983. Instead of being bitter, he formed his own group, Megadeth. And the first album — (Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!, 1985) — from the heavy metal band was a killer. It was just the beginning of a legendary band, which continues to fill stadiums. Peace Sells... but Who’s Buying? (1986), Rust in Peace (1990), Youthanasia (1994).... You know the list, right?!
And you know Dave and his team (David Ellefson, bass; Kiko Loureiro, the band’s new guitarist; and Chris Adler, a member of Lamb of Gods) are travelling to Calcutta, right?!

Megadeth has a date with the city, thanks to Bacardi NH7 Weekender, in association with t2. And before you visit Aquatica on November 1, here’s what the 54-year-old told t2 over phone.

 

You keep coming back to India (Megadeth played India for the first time in March 2008, headlining the Rock In India festival. They returned in 2012 and again in 2014). What do you like most about our country?

I just know that it’s one of those few heavy metal bands from America that has come back a number of times. A lot of people in the Western civilisation think about your country like what I once thought about Israel. Some villages are more poverty-stricken than others. And some think that’s the whole nation. Or, there is the Taj Mahal and you think that’s the whole nation. No, there’s much more to India than that. When we first travelled to India the first couple of times, I realised this. I thought we were a little different culturally and so were the things we did…. But then we found that we (the band and the audience) were completely alike when it came to loving metal music.

 

Do new venues, like Aquatica in Calcutta, excite a legendary band like yours?

New venues do excite me a lot but for me it’s about people. You can go to a new venue and hear it announced that one of the greatest bands is performing but it would mean nothing if people aren’t there. We want to have an experience with our fans, involving all kinds of brand new things, like we did in China.

 

What’s in there for Megadeth fans in your next album, Dystopia (set to release in January)?

There are beautiful progressions, delicate-sounding sounds. We have learned over the years to make music more melodic. We found that heavy metal can be more gratifying if we combine the melodic with the heavy stuff. And we have done this well on this record. There are a lot of heavy performances and a lot of beautiful stuff too, like the piano on Poisonous Shadows.

 

How is it having Chris (Adler, a member of the popular heavy metal band Lamb of God) on the album and on tour?

Chris is here for a lot of different reasons. He is a positive guy, very upbeat. And we love having him around. I think it would be very enjoyable to hear someone who is playing the drums with Megadeth but is a member of Lamb of God.

 

After more than three decades, what are your expectations from the band today?

What I really want the band to do is really embrace all the hard work that has been put in (over the years) by me and David (Ellefson). You know, Megadeth is an institution and not just a band. You know what, I am in one of the biggest f**king heavy metal bands in the world and we have such a great relationship with the crowd. We have been doing this for so long and we have been so honest about what we do.

 

What’s your take on the modern metal scene?

I’m not really familiar with it. 

 

But any metal band you have recently heard?

Not really. When we were in the studio, we were listening to what we were creating. We had about 200 songs on the (hard) drive. So any music I was listening to was our own (laughs)!

 

How would you decide on the setlist for Calcutta?

One has to remember that we need to learn all these songs as a band and then add them to the set. We have gone from just 60 songs when in Quebec to about 80. We have songs from the new album and some from our old catalogue.

Any message you have for a young Dave Mustaine?

Don’t change a thing. One always thinks about fixing some things that have gone wrong. When I look back, I say f**k it. Me being here right now, talking to you… I wouldn’t like to change anything. I am so happy right now. I love my band, my work.

 

Finally, do you get pissed off when people spell the name of the band, ‘Megadeath’?!

No, no. It doesn’t bother me.

 

Dave to t2 in 2014

Dave on staying in shape:

I’ve been doing martial arts ever since I was 12. I have three separate black belt ranks; one in karate, one in taekwondo and one from World Taekwondo Federation, which is a fourth degree. Also, I’ve been the goodwill ambassador for the Federation. Besides that, I eat right for my blood type. When you eat as per your blood type, it makes a huge difference. I feel good.

 

On competition from other bands:

What other bands?! There aren’t many bands that compete with us!

 

 

 

 

 

Catch Megadeth at Bacardi NH7 Weekender Calcutta (Aquatica; October 31 and November 1). Tickets available on Insider.in. Price: Rs 1,250 to Rs 2,250
 

Mathures Paul
I love Megadeth because…. Tell t2@abp.in